The Jets will swap one of their top wide receivers for another in Sunday’s game at Buffalo. While they won’t have Jeremy Kerley (elbow), they will get Santonio Holmes back from a five-game absence that was caused by a hamstring injury.

Kerley was injured in the Jets’ last game, a Nov. 3 win over New Orleans. He leads the Jets with 28 catches and 347 receiving yards. (Backup outside linebacker Garrett McIntyre is also out for this game, because of a knee injury.)

Though Kerley is the statistical leader, Holmes is unquestionably the Jets’ most talented receiver. He is listed as probable for Sunday, the Jets’ second game against the Bills. In the first meeting, he had five catches for a career-best 154 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown catch that broke a 20-all tie in the fourth quarter.

The Jets will also get tight ends Kellen Winslow (performance-enhancing drug suspension) and Jeff Cumberland (concussion) back for this game. Along with the return of Holmes, that should bolster the Jets’ passing offense.

Earlier this week, as he prepared to return, Holmes remained cautious about not wanting to aggravate his hamstring as the Jets begin their push for an unlikely playoff berth.

“Hopefully the coaches will understand that it’s a seven-game stretch that we’re going to need all of our guys,” he said. “So I’m definitely not trying to go out and do anything to jeopardize that. I want to be on the field for these next seven games.”

As for how much Holmes might play on Sunday against the Bills, Jets coach Rex Ryan said, “I think we’ll be smart about that. We’re not going to put him out there for 80 snaps. But does he look good to me? He absolutely looks good.”

With the Bills missing their two best wide receivers, Steve Johnson and Robert Woods, the Jets’ chances of winning back-to-back games for the first time all year also look good. (Johnson is out with a groin injury, Woods with an ankle injury.)

The 5-4 Jets are 4-1 at home this season and 1-3 on the road. Of their final seven games, four are on the road. Since nine or 10 wins likely will get the Jets into the playoffs, they will have to reverse their road fortunes. (After the Buffalo trip, they travel to Baltimore.)

“We have to be able to win on the road,” Ryan said. “If we’re going to do anything, we have to do that. This is something that we’ve talked about and we’re focused on.”